Doctor of Pharmacy

Admissions

Early Admissions: October 1, 2025
Regular Admissions: January 5, 2026
Late Admissions: June 1, 2026
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Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences > Doctor of Pharmacy > PharmD Admissions

The WSU Doctor of Pharmacy program evaluates admissions applications through a holistic review process by giving balanced consideration to academic record, evaluations, personal statement, and life experiences.

Next Deadline

June 1, 2026

How to Apply

Apply to the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPPS) through the PharmCAS national application service for pharmacy schools.

WSU PharmCAS School Page

Application Deadlines

Fall 2026 Enrollment

Early Admissions: Oct 1, 2025
Regular Admissions: Jan 5, 2026
Late Admissions: June 1, 2026

For more details on deadlines, visit the PharmCAS deadlines webpage. Not ready to apply for the Doctor of Pharmacy program yet? Consider our Save-A-Seat program.

Application Options

Early Admissions

Deadline: October*

Interview Dates: Sept– Nov

Advantages

  • Guaranteed scholarship
  • Early access to financial aid
  • Notice of acceptance, denial, or need for more info within one week of your interview

Regular Admissions

Deadline: January*

Interview Dates: Dec – Mar

Advantages

  • Eligibility to receive remaining scholarships

Late Admissions

Deadline: June*

Interview Dates: Apr – June

Advantages

  • Eligibility to receive remaining scholarships after Early and Regular Admissions candidates

Note: Early and Regular Admissions applicants receive priority on scholarships.

*Precise deadline dates can be found above or on the PharmCAS deadlines website.

PharmCAS Application

Applications may be completed and submitted beginning mid-July. First priority is given to Early Admissions applicants and proceeds to Regular Admissions applicants on a rolling basis. The number of interviews available is limited so apply early to reap the benefits of Early Admissions. If PharmCAS does not receive all required materials and transcripts, they will not release your application to WSU for review.

After your application, official transcripts and fees are received. Allow up to four weeks for PharmCAS to process your application.

The PharmCAS application deadline indicates the date your application and all materials must be received in the PharmCAS office.

PharmCAS Application Instructions

Grade Point Averages

To be considered for admission your preferred overall GPA and your science GPA as reported by PharmCAS must be 2.7 or higher. If your GPA is lower but you have extenuating circumstances that you believe should be considered, you may write a letter to explain. Letters of explanation will be requested after the PharmCAS application is submitted. They should be addressed to the Admissions Committee, and be sent to pharmacy.admissions@wsu.edu as a Word document or PDF.

Essay Questions

During your PharmCAS application you will have one essay sharing your personal goals. One of the biggest things to keep in mind is that there is no correct answer to this question. We just want to better get to know you. This is your chance to tell your story and let your personality shine.

Personal Essay

The personal essay (4,500 characters maximum) is part of the supporting information portion of your PharmCAS application. It asks why you chose pharmacy and how a PharmD will help you achieve your goals (what do you want to do after graduation and long-term).

Letters of Recommendation

We require 2 letters of recommendation from evaluators who can speak to your professional character, accountability, and notable experiences, such as a professor, teaching assistant, employer or volunteer supervisor. More than 2 letters is not required, but students can submit as many as 4.

Evaluators should speak to your adaptability, empathy, ethics, intellectual ability, interpersonal relations, judgement, leadership, reliability, and communication skills. We recommend a supervisor, pharmacist or other health care provider you have worked with submit an evaluation. We also suggest that you obtain an evaluation from an academic source that can speak knowledgeably about your academic history. A letter from a pharmacist is not required but highly encouraged.

Recommendations are NOT ACCEPTED from family members, clergy, friends, politicians, fraternity or sorority advisors, personal health care providers or high school faculty/advisors, career services, or reference letter centers.

Transcripts

In PharmCAS you will be asked to send official transcripts from all institutions that you have attended.

Learn more about Applying

Upcoming recruiter visits and admissions events.
View Calendar


Events are added as they are scheduled.

Gaining Pharmacy Experience

WSU does not require pharmacy experience but it is highly recommended. If you are interested in gaining experience in a pharmacy, start talking with pharmacists about a career in pharmacy and consider applying for a pharmacy assistant license. It is hard to gain pharmacy-related experience unless you work in a pharmacy.
Pharmacy Assistant License
Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission

Criminal Background Checks

If you are offered admission to the PharmD program, you will receive an email request from PharmCAS for information to allow a criminal background check. Be apprised that the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission can refuse to issue you a license to practice in the state of Washington due to a felony conviction.

WSU will not automatically or unreasonably deny an applicant’s admission or restrict access to campus residency based on an applicant’s criminal history. While public institutions may or may not deny your admission based on a criminal record, you may not receive board approval based on a felony record. Since a board-approved internship licensure is required to complete the experiential portions of the professional curriculum, you would not be able to academically progress successfully beyond the first professional year.

If you have a criminal conviction on your record you may not be able to complete your degree, regardless of whether WSU grants you admission to the PharmD program.

The Interview

Qualified candidates will receive an email invitation to participate in an admissions interview based on when your application is received. All interviews are conducted virtually.

Decisions

Admissions decisions will be made on a rolling basis, according to the specifics of each application.

Financial Aid

You may apply for financial aid as soon as the FASFA is open for the cycle in which you are applying even if you have not yet submitted your application to WSU. FASFA applications filed by the priority date will receive first consideration. The earlier you file your FAFSA, the more options for aid you will have. If you have any questions about financial aid please contact spokane.financialaid@wsu.edu or Student Affairs at 509-358-7534.

School code: 003800

About Financial Aid
Submit Your FASFA

Alaska and Nevada Residents

You may be eligible for a tuition break through the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Professional Student Exchange Program.
About WICHE

International Students

If you are an international student you are required to complete a foreign transcript evaluation and send this evaluation directly to PharmCAS and take the TOEFL or IELTS exam. International students are strongly encouraged to apply by the regular admissions deadline in January, but the college will accept applications up until the late admissions deadline in June.

Coursework

International transcripts must be evaluated by the World Education Service (WES) on a course-by-course basis and include all transcripts. The complete report must be submitted to and received by PharmCAS by the application deadline. Upper division coursework, including organic chemistry, human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and biochemistry, should be completed at a regionally accredited institution in the US.

Syllabi for all international prerequisite courses completed must be submitted as PDFs in English and include modules covered, learning outcomes, course description, and course assessment. Applicants from a country that utilizes and supplies consolidated marks sheets must submit individual marks sheets.

If you complete pre-pharmacy coursework at a non-US based institutions and are not a native English speaker, you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency Requirements or be eligible for an exception.

TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo

Minimum TOEFL scores required are a 90 internet based, 250 computer based, or 550 paper based with minimum sub scores of Reading 20, Writing 22, Speaking 22, and Listening 20; minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or higher; minimum Duolingo English Test score of 120. Exam date must be within one year of application.

Exceptions to English Language Proficiency Exam:

Exceptions may be given to the English Language Proficiency Exam if one or more of the following conditions are met (verification is required):

  • Applicant has completed a BA or BS degree in a native English-Speaking country.
  • Applicant has completed a minimum of 25 semester/45 quarter credits of equivalent prerequisite coursework from an accredited U.S. based institution.
  • Applicant is a citizen from one of the following countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Overseas Territories, British Virgin Islands, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Montserrat, Nigeria, New Zealand, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, or the United Kingdom.
  • Applicant was schooled outside the U.S. at a school where the language of instruction was English.

Transfer Admission Policy

The college may consider students who have previously attended another professional pharmacy program. Only students in good academic standing will be considered (proof of academic standing will be required). Students who have been decertified, or asked to leave their original program due to academic deficiencies, are not eligible for transfer into the WSU program.

Transfer Request Policies and Procedures [PDF]